Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

SS14 Microbial Diversity (Disciplinary Connections)

Date: Tuesday, February 13, 2001, Time: 11:30:00 AM

Location: Mesilla

Short, S, M, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, smshort@interchange.ubc.ca

Suttle, C, A, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, suttle@eos.ubc.ca

ANALYSIS OF UNKNOWN ALGAL VIRUS SEQUENCES FROM COASTAL WATERS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA CANADA

Genetic sequences from unknown viruses were obtained from the coastal waters of British Columbia Canada. Initially, DNA polymerase gene fragments were amplified from ocean virus samples using PCR with degenerate algal-virus-specific primers. The resulting 700 bp products were analyzed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Individual bands from DGGE gels were excised, reamplified, cloned, and sequenced. Sequence identity was confirmed by the presence of signature sequences that translate to an amino acid motif universally conserved among DNA polymerase proteins. Phylogenetic relationships of the unknown virus sequences were determined by comparison with DNA polymerase sequences from cultured viruses. The unknown-viruses clustered among cultured algal viruses when a Herpes virus DNA polymerase was used to root phylogenies. However, many of the unknown sequences were not closely related to any known algal viruses. While sequences from the same sample were often the closest relatives, this was not always the case; some sequences from different samples were closest relatives. This report on algal virus sequence diversity indicates that the genetic diversity of complex algal virus communities can now be examined using PCR and DGGE.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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